|
"Masters" Signals Busy Summer for IRA
by Paul Pittman
With the World of Outlaw break last Saturday night at the Sheboygan County
Fair Park now behind them, the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series
shifts its 2005 schedule into high gear, beginning with the 7th Annual
“Masters” at the Cedar Lake Speedway on June 17th &
18th. “I couldn’t be happier about being invited to be a
part of such a prestigious event as The Masters,” stated IRA President Steve
Sinclair. The Masters is, without a doubt, one of the biggest
shows of the summer in the upper Midwest and the IRA’s involvement will help
to magnify the overall spectacle of the overall event. Sinclair
continued, “The best driver’s in the country are on-hand to showcase their
talents at one of the best tracks in the region, certainly one of the
fastest. Being a part of that means being recognized as a leader
in the sport and we are confident that the winged sprint portion of the event
will provide the fans with enough variation while still satisfying
everyone’s need for thrills and speed.”
The 2-Day event held at the New Richmond facility marks just the beginning of
many scheduled events over the next few weeks for the touring series.
June 24th will see the series visit the Superior Speedway for the first of two
trips North in 2005 and then on June 25th, the series travels to the Deer
Creek Speedway for the first ever visit by an outlaw sprint series to the
Spring Valley (MN) facility. On July 2nd, the series will bring the 410
Outlaws back to the Sheboygan County Fair Park, followed up with a trip North
to the Luxemburg Speedway on July 3rd to cap off the 4th of July
weekend. Then, on July 6th it's off to the Raceway @ Powercom Park to
greet the World Of Outlaws in another IRA supported program.
Records are expected to fall in short order at many stops the IRA will visit,
and in fact, record books have already been re-written on several occasions
thus far in 2005. Earlier this year, new 8 and 12 lap records were
established at the famed Knoxville Raceway as part of the IRA’s visit in
early May. Then, at the Wilmot Speedway, Arizona Race Mart “Rookie of
the Year” contender Matt Folstad broke Todd Hepfner’s long standing
one-lap track record. Not to be outdone, Joe Roe topped a list of 16
drivers that bettered Ricky Logan’s track record at the Echo Valley
Speedway, showing that the veteran was still very much up to the
challenge. In fact, Roe backed that mark up by visiting victory lane as
well for the first time in 2005.
In all, seven different drivers have graced the Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts
and Services “Victory Lane” in seven different races in 2005.
Wayne Johnson grabbed the series opener (a non-points event) at the Southern
Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, IA while Scott Young secured his first trip to an
IRA victory lane when the series opened in Wisconsin. Defending IRA
Champion Scott Neitzel found the winner’s circle at the Wilmot Speedway and
Kerry Madsen topped a field of over 50 cars competing at the Knoxville
Raceway. Joe Roe’s last corner pass for the win at the Echo Valley
Speedway left fans speechless, at least until the series hit the Hartford
Raceway Park in Michigan a week later, where Danny Smith found victory lane
after a long dry spell. Ken Mackey picked up the last Bumper to Bumper
IRA Outlaw Sprint Series checkered flag when the series finished up the first
third of the season at the Butler Battlegrounds.
To claim that fans attending IRA shows in 2005 are being treated to some of
the best racing seen in recent memory is an understatement and a
statement that lives up to it’s claim. With it’s unique format of
qualifying and rewarding heat race winners for their efforts, every lap on the
speedway is just as important as the last one run and drivers find themselves
driving at levels never dreamed of before, just to make the show. It’s
a show we hope you enjoy. We certainly enjoy the opportunity to bring
you the Mid-West’s Premier Sprint Car Touring Series and invite you stop in
after the show and visit with your favorite drivers. It’s an
experience like no other! For complete scheduling information, please
visit the IRA's website at www.irasprints.com.
|
|
|
